AFA Staff
AFA Journal staff reviews movies, books and other resources
November-December 2008 – The Mirror
From Cypress Moon Productions, The Mirror is a charming and sentimental tribute to the shared lives of Christians Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Strickland of North Alabama. It’s an award-winning independent 23-minute short film that is a beautiful portrait of marriage.
The Mirror takes viewers through the seasons of this couple’s life as they overcome obstacles through faith. Each stage is reflected as the characters look into a dresser mirror.
Available on DVD, the film is silent except for some poignant music and a reading from Ecclesiastes 3. This movie is recommended to everyone, especially youth who would be inspired by this realistic and hopeful portrayal of God’s good plan for marriage. The Mirror is not rated.
Review by Angela Wildmon
When I Find the Ocean
Also from Cypress Moon Productions and Tonya S. Holly comes the story of young Lily Strickland who longs to see the ocean and sets out to find it.
Accompanied by her pets, her journey to the ocean is prompted out of heartache over the death of her father who was lost at sea. Now a new man is in her mother’s life, and he’s trying to take the place of her father. Lily won’t let him because she knows his dark secrets all too well. To escape the hurt, she goes on a journey that brings her face to face with her fears as well as the challenges of the Civil Rights era.
When I Find the Ocean is set in Alabama in 1965 and exposes the dark issue of child abuse that victimizes numerous children. It’s set against a beautiful wilderness backdrop in which the importance of survival skills and animal rights are emphasized. The film reveals the stages of grieving, and God is acknowledged through prayers and dialogue.
Unfortunately, there are six mild profanities, one partial profanity, seven uses of God’s name in vain and some racial slurs. In addition, there is a lot of affection shown between an engaged couple, including one sexually charged scene that ends with the woman walking away and the man sexually frustrated. This scene is intended to show the commitment of waiting until marriage to have sex contrasted with the sexual aggression of an abuser.
Lily’s abuse is evident when her bare back, legs and shoulders are shown from different angles while she is taking a bath. The actual beating is implied, not shown. Lily also takes items that don’t belong to her but leaves money in their place.
While the above elements merit caution, When I Find the Ocean won the first place 2008 Kids First! Best Award for Independent Feature ages 12-18. It is rated PG for thematic material involving violence and racial slurs and for language. (A different version of this review first appeared at www.dove.org.)
Review by Rebecca Grace
The Note
If you only had a few minutes left to live, what would you say and to whom would you say it? That’s the premise of The Note, a new inspirational movie based on the best-selling novel by author Angela Hunt.
It centers on the life of columnist Peyton MacGruder and her struggling career. A fatal plane crash near her office puts her problems in perspective, especially after she finds a mysterious note. It appears the note was written by one of the passengers just before the crash.
Inspired by the power of the words penned in that note, MacGruder is determined to find the intended recipient by Christmas. Through her column, she takes her readers along for what becomes a life-changing journey.
The Note has a nice balance of sentiment and drama. The movie contains some Christian elements and themes of forgiveness and reconciliation.
However, words such as “heck,” “dang” and “gosh” are used. Also included are use of alcohol, a scene in a pub, conversations about death and startling flashbacks of a fatal accident report and an attempted suicide. Characters share a subtle pro-life message by talking candidly about not being able to care for a child, adoption and finding one’s biological parents. There is some immodesty and passionate kissing between an unmarried couple as well as a lot of flirting and inappropriate comments.
The Note is not rated and is now available on DVD.
Review by Rebecca Grace
Siblings: Heartstrings
Siblings: Heartstrings is a 54-minute drama that highlights the importance of healthy father/son relationships.
Not rated, the movie centers around two families – the Mortons and the Moores – and their two sons – Derek and Gator. The families meet one night when the Moores’ car providentially breaks down in front of the bed-and-breakfast inn owned by the Mortons.
Derek and Gator become fast friends and work together to find a hidden treasure left by Derek’s grandfather. For Derek’s father, it turns out to be a treasure far greater than he ever imagined.
Siblings: Heartstrings depicts strong family values, a good work ethic and practical life lessons. It’s good for the whole family and available on DVD.
Review by Angela Wildmon
